Archibald bannatyne



(No Model.)

A. BANNATYNE. MOTION OLOOK.

No. 439,854. Patented Nov.4, 1890.

(S11 manta u UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AROHIBALD BANNATYNE, OF VVATERBURY, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE WVATERBURY CLOCK COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

MOTION-CLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 439,854, dated -f l'overnber 4, 1890.

Application filed December 12,1887. Serial No. 257,578. (No model.)

T0 at whont it may concern.-

Be it known that LARCHIBALD BANNATYNE, residing at \Yaterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion-Clocks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in motion-clocks in which one or more pictorial parts actuated by the clock-movement cooperate with a picture upon the dial in producing some familar and pleasing effect, theobject of the invention being to provide improved lnoans for connecting the pictorial part or parts with the clock-movement and for preserving their shape, such means to be light and cheap and adapted to be conformed to a Wide range of subjects and effect and to equalize the weight of the motion-attachment, considered as a whole, so as to dispense with a counterbalance therefor.

Vith these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a clock, showing one application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view thereof in side elevation, with a portion of the clock-case broken away to expose my improved motion attachment. Fig. 3 is a detached view, in side elevation, of the two pictorial parts called for by the specific application of my invention herein illustrated, such parts being shown connected together in their working adjustment. Fig. 4 is a detached view, in side elevation, of the pictorial part behind the dial. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the pictorial part in front of the dial. Fig. 6 is a detached view, in front elevation, of the pictorial part located behind the dial. Fig. 7 is a similar view thereof in rear elevation. Fig. 8 is a detached view, in front elevation, of the pictorial part located in front of the dial. Fig. 9 is a similar view thereof in rear elevation. Fig. 10 is an enlarged view, in 1ongitudinal section, of the main carrier or drilled socket, showing also the inner end of the pictorial part located behind the dial and the inner end of the stiffener of such part; and Fig. 11 is a similar view of the flanged split plug orsub-carrier, showing also theinnerend of the pictorial part located in front of the dial and the stiffener thereof.

As herein shown, the pallet staff or arbor A of the clock-movementis extended through the front plate B thereof for the removable attachment to it of a drilled socket or carrier C, thereto provided at its inner end with a bore D, and preferably slit, as shown. The outer end of this carrier is provided with a thin circular flange E, which is made integral with it. A pictorial part F, made of any suitable material, but preferably formed of paper, because of the lightness of that substance, is attached at its inner end to the outer face of the flange aforesaid. A stiffener, composed of very light flattened wire bent to form two arms G G, is applied to the back of the said part F, which it prevents from warping or curling, and thus preserves it in shape. This stiffener is also attached, as by a drop of solder, to the edge of the flange E, before mentioned. The outer face of the movable or pictorial part F has printed upon it patches of coloring H H, representing the eyes, and colored patches I and J, representing the mouth and tongue, of a person, the patch I being colored in black and the patch J being colored in red. The part F being located behind the dial K and moved with every beat of the clock-movement, the patches of color referred to are intermittently shown through eye-openings L L and a mouth-opening M, formed therein and appropriately placed in a picture of a negro banjoist printed upon the face thereof. A short plug N, provided at its outer end with a thin circular flange 0, made integral with it and split at its inner end, forms, as it were, a sub-carrier. The split inner end of this carrier is passed from the front of the dial through a small opening 1, formed therein and in line with the arbor A, through a perforation Q, formed in the inner end of the part F, and into an opening R, bored out in the outer end of the drilled socket or main carrier C, already described, whereby the two carriers are removably connected together, the sub-carrier being removed and replaced at pleasure.

A pictorial part S, preferably made of paper and shaped to represent the forearm and hand of the human figure, is attached at its inner end to the outer face of the flange O of the split plug. The outer face of this part S is appropriately colored, and the arm is arrangedwith reference to the picture of the banjoist upon the dial, so as to apparently form a part of that picture and to extend over the instrument which the musician holds. A stiffener T, composed of delicate flattened wire, is applied to the back of the part S, which it preservesin shape. The inner end of the stiffener is shown as soldered to the adjacent edge of the circular flange O of the split plug. Under the construction described and when the clock is in motion the part F, located behind the dial, and the part S, located in front of the dial, will be together moved from the same center with every beat of the clock-movement and cause the pictured musician to lightly pick his banjo and accompany his music with pleasing changes in his facial expression. It is apparent, however, that my invention is not limited to the shape or character of the pictorial parts herein shown, but that it may be applied in the application of a wide variety of subjectsto the so-called motion-clocks. It is also apparent that the light metallic stiffener applied to the backs of the parts may take a variety of shapes in being conformed to them. I would, therefore, have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

- I am well aware that motion-clocks, broadly considered, are very old, Dutch clock-makers of upward of a century ago having actuated a variety of toys, figures, and objects in front of pictorial backgrounds located in the upper parts of clock-dials by means of power derived from clock-movements. I am also awarethat within the last decade the dials of small clocks inclosed in cylindrical metal cases have been provided wit-h pictorial faces and with pictorial parts operating within the circle formed by the hour-characters, and often in front of false dials or backgrounds located behind the true or time dials, the said pictorial parts having been operated from power derived in various ways from the time-movement of the clocks.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let-- ters Patent, is-- In a motion-clock, the combination, with a dial displaying a picture upon its face and having two or more openings formed in it, of

an arbor of the clock-movementlocated in line with one of the said openings in the dial, a main carrier located on the outer end of the said arbor and having its outer end socketed, a pictorial part applied to such carrier located entirely behind the dial and co-operating with other of the said openings therein, a sub-carrier or plug entered into the socket in the outer end of the main carrier and projecting beyond the face of the dial, and a pictorial part located entirely in front of the dial and attached to the sub-carrier, the said pictorial parts forming part of the same picture and operated simultaneously from the same center.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AROHIBALD BANNATYNE. Witnesses:

CHAS. B. SHUMWAY, M. S. SEELEY. 

